OYO, UNICEF PROMOTE POSITIVE PARENTING TO PROTECT CHILDREN

The Oyo State Government, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund and Value Female Network Africa, has commenced the Gender Transformative Positive Parenting Programme 1.0 to strengthen child protection and prevent violence against children.

The programme began with a two-day training for community facilitators held in Ibadan on September 2 and 3, 2026.

UNICEF Child Protection Specialist, Denis Onoise, said parents and caregivers serve as the first protective environment for children and should be equipped to recognise risks, prevent violence and connect vulnerable children with appropriate support services.

According to him, positive parenting goes beyond discipline and plays an important role in building a stronger child protection system.

The Executive Director of Value Female Network Africa, Costly Aderibigbe-Saba, said the programme was designed to help parents create homes where children feel safe, heard, respected and supported.

She added that positive parenting would also address issues such as sexual violence, female genital mutilation, child marriage and other harmful practices affecting children.

The Director of Programmes at Value Female Network Africa, Samuel Abimbade, said the initiative was developed in response to concerns over child neglect, abuse, violence and poor communication between some parents and their children.

He stressed that positive parenting does not mean allowing children to do whatever they want, noting that discipline, guidance, care and effective communication remain essential to raising children.

The programme will be implemented in selected communities across Ibarapa North East, Ibarapa South West, Egbeda and Akinyele Local Government Areas.

About 800 parents and caregivers are expected to participate in structured parenting sessions over a 10-week period.

The programme will cover child development, parent-child communication, positive discipline, gender-equitable caregiving, positive fatherhood, adolescent supervision and digital safety.

It will also address the prevention of sexual violence, female genital mutilation, child marriage and other harmful practices, while promoting birth registration and community-based child protection systems.